“It was a good performance by our players,” PSA director youth program Tariq Pervez told The Express Tribune. “We are the second-best team in the world but the Sri Lankans are improving fast and fully deserved this title. At the same time we were a little unlucky too as our top three players had to face each other.”

Pervez added that Pakistan will have a better chance of winning the title next year as the pool of players is increasing in Pakistan.

“Sri Lanka have quality players, but we’ll be having a larger talent pool next year, and we’ll then be choosing the best talent,” he said. “So there is hope but we need to work harder.”

The event market the last youth championship for Abdullah Abbasi, regarding which Parvez added: “Unfortunately, this was the last time Abdullah competed at the youth championships he’ll be over-aged for U18 events by next year, but we still have Hasham and Sohaib.”